ALL YOU CAN EAT!!!

Recently the Pro Search Plus team headed out to celebrate our amazing photographer being home from his most recent jaunt on the road filming hotels.  We went to GEN SUSHI (appropriately named I must say) which has an "all you can eat sushi" option for $24.95.  Don't let the 3.5 stars on YELP fool you, this place is actually pretty good.  I am of the opinion that no one needs "all you can eat" anything and it's part of the reason why Americans are consuming such large portions when out to eat, but hey - it's a value none the less.  

What I loved about GEN was that the fish on the nigiri sushi is SO large and the little rice ball is so small.  Now usually all you can eat places put littttttle bits of fish and a lot of rice (charging you for what you have left over and hoping that you fill up on the carbo loaded sushi rice).  This place definitely has the opposite feel to it.  LOTS of fish, little rice...i.e. my jam.  

Now, as far as the diet went - I was not very good.  I wasn't horrible but I could have been better.  I figured I deserved a good meal and paid for it slightly on my weekly weigh in but hey - I've been kicking ass, so I didn't care.  It did however get me thinking - how many calories are in sushi?  I found some interesting results on a couple different pages that I did an average of and listed below.  I've come to find out from my 6 hours of cardio I do in an average week that the value in 500 calories is enormous.  It is freaking hard to work off 500 calories.  So, naturally - when I see that a shrimp tempura roll is about that amount I equate that to "one hour on the treadmill" and get a bit turned off on this delicious fried Japanese dish.   

Some tips:  I read somewhere that it's a good idea to have miso soup before your sushi meal - it's about 80 calories in 1 cup and fills you up a bit.  I also took note from the same dieters blog that there is a good side to heading out to a sushi dinner which is that there is rarely a temptation for dessert as the Japanese dessert is less appealing than an American bistro.  I concur as I'm not a fan of red bean or green tea ice cream.

The below separates the average calorie count by sushi type (with a description of the type of sushi).  Because this is my blog, I chose the general types of fish I order so there is no funny squid, sea urchin or eel in the lists below.  

Sashimi is sliced fish that is served with a bowl of regular boiled rice on the side (the word means “pierced body,” and may derive from the culinary practice of keeping the fish’s tail and fin with the cut slices to identify the fish being eaten.

Hamachi (Yellowtail) - 41 calories / 6.6 grams of protein

Sake (Salmon) - 45 calories / 6 grams of protein

Amaebi (Sweet shrimp) - 30 calories / 5.8 grams of protein

Awabi (Abalone) - 30 calories / 4.8 grams of protein

Maguro (Blue Fin Tuna) - 40 calories / 6.6 grams of protein

Shiro Maguro (White Tuna AKA Albacore - which I NEVER KNEW!) - 49 calories / 7.2 grams of protein

Nigiri-sushi, slices of fish or other foods on pads of rice (Nigiri means hand-formed).

Hamachi (Yellowtail) - 51 calories / 3.8 grams of protein --- 8.2 grams of carbs

Sake (Salmon) - 53 calories / 3.3 grams of protein --- 8.2 grams of carbs

Amaebi (Sweet shrimp) - 60 calories / 6.3 grams of protein --- 8.4 grams of carbs

Awabi (Abalone) - 45 calories / 2.5 grams of protein --- 9.1 grams of carbs

Maguro (Blue Fin Tuna) - 50 calories / 3.8 grams of protein --- 8.2 grams of carbs

Shiro Maguro (Albacore / White Tuna) - 55 calories / 4.1 grams of protein --- 8.2 grams of carbs

Maki-sushi, rolled sushi (including handrolls, temaki—maki means roll).

(Keep in mind, none of the below includes the spicy mayo in the count)

Avocado Roll - 140 calories / 2.1 grams of protein --- 28 grams of carbs

Kappa Maki (cucumber roll) - 136 calories / 3.0 grams of protein --- 30 grams of carbs

Tuna (Maguro) Roll - 184 calories / 24 grams of protein --- 27 grams of carbs

California Roll - 255 calories / 9 grams of protein --- 38 grams of carbs

Spicy Tuna Roll  - 290 calories / 24 grams of protein --- 26 grams of carbs

Philadelphia Roll  - 290 calories / 14 grams of protein --- 28 grams of carbs

Rainbow Roll  - 476 calories / 33 grams of protein --- 50 grams of carbs

So I believe the winner of the Japanese sushi meal is Tuna.  HIGH in protein and low in calories.  Obviously if you can get sashimi you''re golden; however do not deprive yourself of the other goodies sushi has to offer...just watch out for the spicy mayo.  That stuff is loaded with all the bad stuff! :)